Key case



March 11, 1952 Q LEGAT 2,588,857

KEY CASE Filed Aug. 19, 1947 WITNE55 1 V INVENTOR. 5 065/? r U. LEG/ r y BY 76 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 11, 1952 2,588,857 KEY CASE Robert C. Legat, New Britain,

The G. E. Prentice Mfg. a corporation of Connecticut Application August 19, 1947, Serial No. 769,371

Claims.

This invention relates to its principal object the provision of an improved key holder for such cases. More specifically the invention contemplates providing a key holder which is sturdy in construction though economical to manufacture, which enables the kevs to be readily selected for use or removed individually from the holder. and which reduces wear on the casing to a minimum.

Other objects of the invention, as well as the novel features of its construction, will become apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front holder showing it mounted on a side of a casing; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the construction shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the locking levers for the key hooks in open position; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a front elevational view the holder and Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line Ii6 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings, the reference numeral ID indicates one side of the casing which may be made of leather or any other suitable material and of such size as to accommodate keys hanging on the hooks II. The casing may be closed by means of a slide operable fastener extending around three of its sides, as is well-known in the art. The hooks II are pivotally supported on a holder composed of a fiat plate I2 made of sheet metal and bent along its too edge into the form of a U- shaped channel portion I3, the major portion of such channel portion proiecting forwardly of the front face of the plate, while the upper free edge portion I4 thereof extends beyond the rear face of such plate as can be 2, 4 and 6 of the drawings. The rearwardly projecting edge portion I4 of the plate I2 maintains the casing spaced from the area defined by the channel portion I3 and thereby prevents the enlarged ends I5 of the hooks II from wearing out the material of the casing while the keys at: tached to such hooks are manipulated in the use of the holder. The edge portion I4 extends continuously across the top-of the holder (note Fig. 5) and thereby also functions as a stop to limit the movement of the key hooks II in an upward or outward direction.

Formed in the upper portion of the plate I2 are two sets I6 and I 7 of cutouts or apertures, each aperture being constituted of a slot-like portion I8 having parallel sides and extending from a point just below the channel portion I3, transof the main plate of seen more clearly in Figs.v

key cases and has for r elevational view of the til Conn., assignor to 00., Kensington, 001111.,

versely through the material of such channel portion and to the edge portion I4. The lower end of the slot portion I8 of each aperture communicates with an offset enlarged opening I9 which is of a size to permit the free insertion therethrough of an enlarged end I5 of a key hook, it being understood that the width of each slot portion I8 is less than the transverse width of such end I5, but greater than the transverse width of the key hook adjacent to its enlarged end I5. Thus, while the enlarged end I5 of a key hook may be readily inserted through the opening I9 of each aperture, it cannot be removed outwardly through the slot portion I8 of such aperture though the hook may be moved freely along the slot portion I8 and pivotally relative thereto. In this connection, it might also be pointed out that the edge portion I4 limits upward movement of the enlarged end I5 in the slot portion I8 and the casing I0 restricts the inward movement of such end relative to the plate I2. It will also be noted that the openings I 9 of the set of apertures I6 are disposed in opposed relation to the openings I9 of the set of apertures I1, the openings in each set being offset toward the adjacent side edge of the plate I2. While this arrangement is shown for six key hooks, it will also hold true if the holder is constructed for four or eight key hooks.

Arranged along the bottom edge of the plate I2 are two series 20 and 2I of apertures, each aperture in the series 20 being aligned with themlarged opening of an aperture I6 and a section of the channel portion adjacent to the slot portion of such aperture I6, and each aperture in'the series 2I being aligned with theenlarged opening of an aperture I! and a section of the channel portion adjacent to the slot portion of such aperture Il. Hingedly mounted on the bottom edge portions of the plate which define the bottom edges of the apertures 20 and 2| are a plurality of levers 22 arranged in two sets of three levers and each set being separated by a rigidifying plate 22' overlying and secured to the central transverse portion of plate I2, such plate 22' being substantially similar in appearance to the levers 22. Each of the levers 22 has a body portion 23 that extends up to the lower end of the slot portion I8 of its associated aperture IE or Ii! when the lever is in closed position and of a width such that the combined, overall width of each set of such levers completely conceals the underlying portion of plate I2 on one side of plate 22. The upper ends 24 of the levers 22 and plate 22' are reduced in width so as not to cover the slot portions [8 of the apertures 16 and I! when the levers 22 are closed. The upper portions of the lever ends 24 are bent into a form substantially similar to that of the channel portion l3, but have a degree of curvature slightly less than the latter so that such portions can be pressed into locked position on those sections of the channel portion l3 adjacent to the slot portions l8 and which they overlie. The material of the upper end 24 of each lever is stamped to provide a finger-nail tab 25 by which the lever can be unlocked from the channel portion l3 simply by lifting such end from engagement with the latter. Intermediate the series of apertures 20, 2| and the lever ends of the apertures I6, H are a, pair of apertures 26 through which extend rivets that secure the plate I2 to the casing l8.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the levers 22 of the holder are normally in closed position with their upper ends 24 in locked engagement with the channel portion [3 of the plate l2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

In this condition of the parts, the body portions 23 of the levers completely cover the openings l9 of the apertures l6, l1 and thereby prevent the removal of the key hooks H. The key hooks H however, are free to pivot in the slot portions l8 of the apertures to enable the keys connected thereto to lie flat in the casing i or to enable the keys to be moved outside the upper end of the casing for use. The outer surfaces of the levers 22 and plate 22' may be coated to give to the holder an attractive appearance, and provided with an index indicating the place where the particular key associated therewith is to be used. When it is desired to remove any key hook H with its associated key, either to use the key more conveniently or to replace it with another key, all that is necessary is to lift the lever from its locking engagement with the channel portion [3, through the fingernail tab 25, thus exposing the whole of their associated aperture it or H, and then moving the enlarged portion [5 along the slot portion [8 of such aperture, into the opening 19 thereof, whereupon the hook can readily be removed from the holder. To return the hook and its key to the holder, these operations in reverse are carried out. It will also be noted that in the use of this device, the material of the casing underlying the holder cooperates with the latter to maintain the enlarged portions I5 of the hooks in position in the channel portion l3, the casing material however, permitting the removal and proper insertion of a book when so desired.

I claim:

1. A key holder comprising a plate having at its upper end a longitudinally extending channelshaped portion projecting outwardly from the front face of said plate, said channel portion be-' ing divided into a series of sections by a plurality of slots which extend transversely of such plate to points spaced below said channel portion, each of said slots communicating at its lower end with an enlarged opening in such plate and through which the head of a key hook may be passed into the area defined by said channel portion, and a plurality of levers pivotally connected to the lower edge of said plate, said levers being constructed to overlie said enlarged openings to lock the key hooks in position on said holder, but to leave'exposed said slots to permit of free pivotal movement of the hooks about their head portions, and locking means on each of said levers adapted to cooperate with said channel portion to lock said levers in said overlying position.

2. In a keyholder comprising a plate having at its upper end a longitudinally extending channelshaped portion projection outwardly from the front face of said plate, said channel portion being divided into a series of sections by a plurality of slots which extend transversely of such plate to points spaced below said channel portion, each of said slots communicating at its lower end with an enlarged opening in such plate and through which the head of a key hook may be passed into the area defined by said channel portion, and a plurality of levers pivotally connected to the lower edge of said plate, said levers being constructed to overlie said enlarged openings to lock the key hooks in position on said holder, but to leave ex-.

posed said slots to permit of free pivotal movement or" said hooks about their head portions, the upper ends of said levers being bent into a form substantially similar to that of said channelshaped portion but defining an'area slightly less than the latter so that such upper ends of the levers can be pressed into locked position on said channel-shaped portion, and means on the upper end of each of said levers to enable said lever to be manually unlocked from said channel-shaped portion.

3. In a keyholder comprising a plate having at its upper end a longitudinally extending channelshaped portion projecting outwardly from the front face of said plate, said channel portion being divided into a series of sections by a plurality of slots which extend transversely of such plate to points spaced below said channel portion, each of said slots communicating at its lower end with an enlarged opening in such plate and through which the head of a key hook may be passed into the area defined by said channel portion, and a plurality of levers pivotally connected .to the lower edge of said plate, said levers having fiat body portions which overlie the front face of said plate below said channel-shaped portion and overlie said enlarged openings to lock the key I hooks in position on said holder, the upper ends of said levers being positioned in overlying relation on said channel-shaped portion adjacent to the transverse slots thereof and being bent into a form substantially similar to that or" said chan-' nel-shaped portion but such that the upper ends can be pressed into locked position on said channel-shaped portion, and a part connected to the upper end of each of said levers to enable such levers to be manually unlocked from said channelshaped portion and swung away from such plate to uncover said enlarged openings. 7

i. In a keyholder comprising a plate having at its upper end a longitudinally extending channelshaped portion projecting outwardly from the front face of said plate, said channel portion being divided into a series of sections by a plurality of slots which extend transversely of such plate to points spaced below said channel portion, each of said slots communicating at its lower end with an enlarged opening in such plate and through which a key hook may be passed into the area defined by said channel portion, said enlarged openings being wholly located be low said channel-shaped portion and being offset from their associated slots, and a plurality of levers pivotally connected to the lower edge of said plate, said levers having flat body portions which overlie the front face of said plate below said channel-shaped portion and overlie said enlarged openings to lock the keyhooks in position on said holder, and said body portions substantially concealing the front face of said plate below said channel-shaped portion, the upper end of each of said levers being reduced in width and being positioned in overlying relation over that section of the channel-shaped portion located above its associated enlarged opening and adjacent to the slot connected with such opening, the upper ends of said levers being bent into a form substantially similar to that of said channel-shaped portion but such that the upper ends can be pressed into locked position on said channel-shaped portion, and a part connected to the upper end of each of said levers to enable such levers to be manually unlocked from said channel-shaped portion and swung away from such plate to uncover said enlarged openings.

5. A key holder comprising a plate having at its upper end a longitudinally extending channelshaped portion projecting outwardly from the front face of said plate, said channel portion being divided into a series of sections by a plurality of openings, each of such openings having a slot-like upper portion extending transversely of said channel portion to a point spaced theree below and an enlarged lower portion in the body of said plate to permit the head of a key hook to pass therethrough into the area defined by said channel portion, each of the enlarged lower portions of the openings being offset from its associated slot-like upper portion and located below a section of said channel portion forming one side of such upper portion, and a plurality of levers pivotally connected at their lower ends to the lower edge of said plate, said levers being constructed to overlie the enlarged lower portions of the openings to lock the key hooks in position on the holder, but to leave exposed the slot-like upper portions of the openings to permit of free pivotal movement of the hooks about their head portions, and locking means on the upper end of each of said levers adapted to interlock with the section of said channel portion above the offset lower portion of the opening which such lever overlies to lock such lever in such overlying position.

ROBERT C. LEGAT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

29 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,922,755 Buxton Aug. 15, 1933 2,026,185 Lupfer Dec. 31, 1935 5 2,093,327 Legat Sept. 14, 1937 2,201,833 Koelling May 21, 1940 2,394,507 Zarowin Feb. 5, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS q Number Country Date 255,212 Great Britain July 22, 1926 371,253 Great Britain Apr. 21, 1932 

